Addendum: For stretch:
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ stretch non-free contrib main
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ stretch-updates non-free contrib main
deb http://security.debian.org/ stretch/updates non-free contrib main
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ stretch-backports non-free contrib main
## For getting libdvdcss2 (Enable line below, run key install below, update, upgrade, install it and then comment it out again.)
# deb http://download.videolan.org/pub/debian/stable/ /
Non-Gnome3 users issue:wget -O - http://download.videolan.org/pub/debian ... an-apt.asc | sudo apt-key add -
Update (Why): The old update-notifier moved into Gnome(which means Gnome 3) only. Those on XFCE, Mate(old Gnome 2, GTK stuff) and others were left to fin for themselves.sudo apt-get purge update-notifier && sudo apt-get install pk-update-icon
However a new pk-update-icon in back-ports fills the gaps. So you could upgrade that GUI way and with extras (notification) such as if they are "important" upgrades. When installed; pk-update-icon only shows up in the panel (later) when there's an upgrade. It also requires gnome-packagekit and its dependencies. My howto (no notify) doesn't require those dependencies. Not that it's necessarily a deal breaker; but for how it works. You could do both (GUI and enhanced terminal) upgrading. You could just put gnome-packagekit icon in your panel and you can upgrade through that (GUI) on demand. GUI is a good option for new users. Terminal (helped a bit here) offers more custom flexibility, vision and power. Neither is perfect. For a terminal example; if your connection happens to be down then do not say "Y"es to a bunch of recommendations. <CTRL>-C out of the whole script instead. But you can have your terminal (inside it) set the way you like it with it's profile defaults.
Therefore; consider this a simple, edit-able script below and with the details of how to activate any script from a one-click launcher (in Mate exactly and similarly in others).
General Reminder: Check any problems with browser add-ons as disabled to avoid conflicts. (Like Google Disconnect and web video.)
Overview: Debian can email it needs upgrading; but that's not what I wanted. No pre-check notify/notifier required. No more daily hunting (Ctrl-R in terminal for Reverse search) and pecking [typoes] for these. It just works. Your way; too.
This is for those who want to upgrade about once a day or when they first go on-line; before they start working. This is a simplistic hybrid of sorts; in that it still requires user intervention. I like to see what's upgrading and decide about any errors as required. You could simply add more or less automation to your (icon launched) 'upgrade.sh' script and so amend what your one-click launcher will do. It's just really quick to get the terminal going with an upgrade this click-able way.
Experts please post any script improvements and ideas.
Note: I use the Mate(alone); on Debian stable with select back-ports (Firefox release, Libre Office, etc...) as needed.
This example uses mate-terminal; but you can easily adapt it to other or your preferred terminal; where ever you have set your favorite terminal preferences, This allows just one simple default terminal profile to your set way.
Easy for cut and paste...
User must be in the sudo group for this one. [This sudo way asks for a password again when there's any long delays]
Note: the --init-file in the top script comment/tag is what keeps the terminal up; when called from a launcher/icon.#!/bin/bash --init-file
echo
echo 'Upgrading your entire Debian system'
echo
sudo apt-get update
echo
echo STARTING UPGRADE
echo
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
echo
#echo 'Upgrading Adobe Pepper Flash for Chromium (Broken? Check version elsewhere.)'
#echo
#sudo update-pepperflashplugin-nonfree --verbose --install
#echo
Note: Using this separate script (instead of just, "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade", stuffed in the launcher command) allows for easy script editing in user space. It also shows how to make other panel launchers for any other scripts and jobs. It is open for additional functions you may want to do; along with the standard update and upgrade.
1. Paste (with pluma or your fav editor) the above code as a text file (script) and name it upgrade.sh [not upDate]
2. Save it into your home folder AKA /home/*you*; so it's in the path.
3. Make sure to right-click this script and check and Allow executing as a program under permissions
4. Now this script is done and also ready to be run from a new launcher on your panel.
5. Right click the panel, then click 'Add to panel' and add a 'Custom Launcher'.
6. Right click your launcher icon and select Properties.
7. Name it "Upgrade Now" (or your choice) in the name field and leave the comment field blank.
8. In the main command field enter exactly...
9. ...leave it as an Application only; because the terminal is an application and it will use your mate-terminal ("-e" is just is short for a "--command" to follow and compound commands need to be in quotes; but not here). So the mate-terminal (or what have you) is using all your pre-set terminal preferences as you have set them in it (default profile). Such as transparency, maybe bright green letters on black (see through just a little background), terminal width (AKA columns) etc... and what have you.mate-terminal -e ./upgrade.sh
10. Finally (After right-clicking Launcher for properties) just click the new icon itself and pick your fancy icon preference for upgrading.
Note: Pick an icon from what you have installed or just ...
If you still do not see the following folder/icon just remove and re-install them by:sudo apt-get install mate-icon-theme-faenza
Finding the icons then might have been time consuming; but where to look. Click "File System", and (drill down to)....sudo apt-get remove mate-icon-theme-faenza && sudo apt-get install mate-icon-theme-faenza
/usr/share/icons/matefaenza/status/scalable/software-update-urgent-symbolic.svg